Our doctrinal statement is divided into parts A and B, you can have a read or check out this video read by John Ramsden, our community pastor. 

PART A:

Part A constitutes what we regard as the core of Biblical faith. Anyone desiring to be a member of CGCC must have an unreserved and wholehearted commitment to the truth of this doctrinal position and its implications for their lives.

PART B:

We accept that among Christians who agree with Part A there will be differences of opinions on other issues. We value this diversity within the body of Christ but emphasise the unity, love and harmony that comes from a common faith in Jesus Christ. Within the context of current theological discussion there is a need at times to clarify our position as a church. Part B outlines such a position for some issues. We don’t necessarily expect everyone to agree with all of Part B but it does represent our considered conclusions on the issues listed. Anyone desiring to be a member of CGCC must accept that this is our position as a church and undertake not to work against this position or cause dissension over it in any way.

PART A

1. The Bible

We believe the sixty-six books of the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings. The Bible is the full and complete revelation of God's will for individuals and their salvation. The Bible is the supreme and final authority in all matters of Christian faith and practice. We teach the grammatical-historical, literal interpretation of Scripture. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Jude 3).

2. The Godhead

We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Genesis 1:1; Psalm 90:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Matthew 28:18-19).

3. The Person and Work of Jesus Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is God and a true man, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus lived a sinless life on earth, died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, was buried, and rose bodily from the dead. Further, He ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate (Luke 1:37; John 1:1, 14, 18; Acts 1:9-11; 4:10-12; Romans 1:4; 3:24-25; 5:8-10; 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 1:3; 4:14-16; 6:19-20; 7:24-25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1-2).

4. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. His ministry is to glorify Christ, convict people of sin, righteousness and judgement, regenerate the believing sinner, and at the point of conversion, baptize those who believe into the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit then indwells, guides, instructs, sovereignly gifts Christians for the common good of the church and empowers them for godly living (John 14:16-17; 16:7-15; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 12:7, 11-13, 18; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18).

5. Fall of Humankind

We believe the first man, Adam fell into sin as a consequence of Satan’s temptation. Every person is spiritually dead
incurring separation from God for eternity, therefore every human needs the miracle of new birth before either male or
female can have eternal life. Eternal life is granted by faith in Christ. The only hope for all human beings is the
undeserved love of God, who alone can rescue us and restore us to himself. (Luke 19:10; John 3:3, 16-18, 36, 5:24,
10:27-29, Ephesians 2:8-9)

6. The Sanctity of Life

We believe that humanity is created in the image and likeness of God. He has created them male and female and that it
is God who ordains all the days of our life from conception to final breath. Ending someone’s life by Euthanasia or
Abortion is unjustifiable and clearly violates God’s purposes for humanity. (Genesis 1:25– 27, Psalm 139:13 – 16)

7. Salvation

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world. His shed blood and His resurrection provide the only means of eternal salvation, and salvation is offered as a free gift of God. Only through repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can an individual be forgiven, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and thus become an eternal child of God. We believe that all who are born of God show Page 2 of 2 their faith to be genuine by holiness of life and good works. (Romans 3:19, 4:25, 5:6,12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Cor.5:21; Ephesians 2:10, 4:24; Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 9:24-28, 10:12-14; James 2:17; 1 Peter1:3-5; 1 John 3:9).

8. Ethics and Marriage

We believe that under the Lordship of Christ the Scriptures prescribe certain ethical responses to Christ’s super
abounding love and mercy. With relation to sexual ethics God only sanctifies heterosexual marriages and condemns a
wide range of sexual misconduct including adultery, fleshly desires, fornication, same sex sexual relations, lust and a
wide range of other specific sexual sins. (Gen 1:26,27, 2:23; Matt 5:27-28, 19:3-9; Rom 1:24-28; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal
5:19-21; Col 3:5; 1 Thess 4:1-8; Heb 13:4; 1 Tim 1:9-11 ; Jude 7).

9. The Universal and Local Church

We believe the true universal church is a spiritual entity composed of all individuals who have genuinely repented of their sin, trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ and received forgiveness and new birth through His Name. All such believers are united together in the Body of Christ of which Christ is Head. We believe that only those who are thus members of the true universal church are eligible for membership in the local church. We believe that God has called individual Christians to meet together in local autonomous congregations which submit to Christ as Lord and Head of the Church, and are guided by a recognized group of Elders (Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Acts 2:42-47; 11:27-30; 12:45; 20:7,17-38; 1 Corinthians 8:1-14; 12:1-28; 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15; Romans 12:1-16; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 1:1; 4:15-18; Titus 1:5).

10. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

We believe in the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church and the establishing of His Kingdom on earth (Daniel 9:27; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 6:1-19:21; 20:1-3).

11. The Resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous

We believe at death the soul/spirit of a Christian goes to be with Christ and the soul/spirit of a nonChristian to Hades. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead: of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord Jesus Christ; of the unbeliever to judgement and everlasting conscious punishment in the Lake of Fire (Luke 16:19-31; John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 15:12-58; 2 Corinthians 5:8- 10; Philippians 1:23; Revelation 20:11-15).

12. Angels, Fallen and Unfallen

We believe that God created spirit beings known as Angels. We believe the Bible teaches that Satan is a personal angelic being, the highest of all angelic creatures. Satan sinned through pride and with him other angels known also as demons joined Satan’s rebellion against God. Satan through his revolt became the author of sin and the cause of the fall of mankind. Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and mankind and he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire (Genesis 3:1-19; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 20:10). 

PART B

1. Believers Baptism

We believe that believer's baptism by immersion is an ordinance commanded by Jesus Christ to be obeyed by each individual Christian. Believer's baptism is to follow personal repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Believer's baptism is an acted parable of a Christian's death, burial and resurrection with Christ. It is an outward sign of an inward divine work (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:12, 35-39; 16:31-33; Romans 6:3-4; 10:9-10; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:21).

2. The Lord’s Supper

We believe the second ordinance to be observed by the Church is the Lord's Supper also called in the Bible, the Breaking of Bread, or the Communion. Like Baptism, the Lord's Supper is not to be regarded as a means of salvation. Rather, communion is a time of worship, a celebration of the redemptive activity of God through Christ, it is a remembrance of Christ, a proclamation of His death, a meal anticipating the return of Christ (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:15-20; Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:17-33).

As a CCCVAT member church we also agree with the Statement of Faith and Doctrinal Statement of CCCVAT: CCCVAT